Submarine life-preserver.



G. E. & G. A. FELL.

SUBMARINE LIFE PRESERVER. APPLICATION FILED N0v. 3o, 1915. LXQTJ 15,, Patentedfiept. 5,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. E. &G. A. FELL.

SUBMARINE LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. l9l5.

1 ,1 9?,1 1 5 Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonon Eow Firm. and Gnnrnnnn Axrnrn FELL, citizens of the United Statea'residing atllludalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Submarine v Life -Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a submarine lifepreserver designed more particularly for the nose and mouth of the user'and a heating air-supply device or chamber connected with said mask by an air tube but free to I rise and fall independently of the user, so

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that its air-inlet always remains above the surface of the water in order. to furnish an adequate and uninterrupted supply of re spiratory air to the'user, even though'he be submerged attimes. v

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the air-supply device. Fig". 3 is a transverse section on line 38, Fig. 2. Fig. t is an enlarged vertical section of the face-mask. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of the air supply device. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line'6t,'l ig 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section showing a modifiedconstruction of the face-mask- Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views" lindicates the face-mash which'is approximately cup-shaped and constructed of any suitable material, such as galvanized iron, tin, aluminum, or hard rubber. closed at its front end and on all sidesand its face-edge or open end is covered with a suitable sealing material 2 which will readily mold or conform to the contour of the I wearers face, by its warmth or by pressure, or both, so as to form a practically water.- tight joint between the mask and the face i t ann'rnnnn specification of Letters Patent.

The mask is TELL FELL, OF BUFFALQ, NE Y0 t ill? QMD SIGNOR T0 SAID GERTRUDE It? TELL FELL.

HIE LlihE-PRESERVEB.

when secured inplace. War or any other suitable plastic material or composition may be used for this purpose; in order to form an. extensive hearing or attaching surface for the sealing rim or material 2, the mash may be providedat its face-edge with an outwardly-extending flange 3. The war covered edge of the mask preferably extends upwardly to about the bridge of the nose and the portions of this upward extension on opposite sides of the nose are notched or recessed, as shown at 2" to give the wearer an unobstructed vision. The mask may be fastened to-the head by any suitable means.

Patented dept. dfllhld. Application filed November 30, rats. herial Ito. that? I The preferred devices shown in the draw-- ings consist of-a flexible cap 4 of the proper dimensions to cover the ears as well as the top and baclr of the head, and a strap 5 fastened to the sides of the cap and passing around the front and sides of the mask on which it is coned by a loop 6. The mask is comparatively/deep to form an air chamher which receives the nose and mouth of the wearer, and it is provided with a hollow supply-nipple 7 to which is attached one end of a flexible air-tube or conduit 8 of rubber or other suitable material. The other end of this tube is connected with the air supply device which is constructed as follows tv 9 indicates a float or air-tight float-chainher which may be cylindrical or of other de- Fig. 2. The lower compartment ltlis provided at or near its top with a hollow. nipple 13 to which the air tube dis attached. These compartments communicate with each other through an air passage or tube it arranged in the high central portion of the diaphragm l2. To the upper end of this tube is applied a cdnical cap 15 which prevents anyiwater which may enter'the bailing compartment from fallingzthrough said tube into the air supply compartment 10. The base of this cap is separated from the tube 1a b an intervening spacethrough which the air is free ltltl to pass from the upper to the lower compartment, and vice versa. In order to permit the escape of water from the upper compartment 11, the same is provided in itsside at or near its bottom with one or more discharge openings 16 to which are applied automatic or. check valves 17 of any suitable construction which permit the free discharge of the water from the compartment while preventing the entrance of water through said openings. In the construction shown in .the drawings, the portions of the compartment-walls containing the discharge openings are depressed or recessed and Hex- 'ible check valves are applied to the outer sides of the openings, the valves being free at their lower edges and fastened to the. walls of said compartment at their upper edges.

Leading to and rising from the bailing compartment 11 is an upright air-pipe or conduit 18 which extends a suitable distance above said compartment, so as not to be submerged in the upright position of the said tube and the float; To render the apparatus more compact for transportation and storage, this air pipe may be provided with a detachable extension 19 which, when the apparatus is not in use, may be inverted or reversed and housed within the pipe-18, as shown by dotted'lines in Fig. 2. For this 7 purpose, the extension may be provided at its lower end with a double screw nipple 20 having a stop-flange 21 adapted to bear against an internally threaded bushing 22 in the pipe 18 and externally screw threaded portions 23 and 24 above and below said flange, either of which may be screwed into the bushing 22 to secure the extension in its normal or its telescoped position. As shown in the drawings, the extension may be provided at its upper end with a downwardlycurved .or laterally-extending tip or movable inlet portion 25 of rubber or other suitable material to prevent ready access of water into the extension.

In order to retain the float in a substantially upright position and prevent submersion of the air-inlet pipe and its extension 19, the float is provided with a weight or righting device 26 of any suitable construction.. That shown in the drawings consists of a can or receptaclefilled with sand, lead or other heavy material and connected with the bottom of the float by a chainor other flexible connection 27. To facilitate carriage and compact storage of the apparatus, the

float is preferably provided in its lower end 'witha socket or housing 28 adapted to receive the chain 27 and the upper portion of the weight 26, as shown b dotted. lines in Fig. 2.. The float is of su cient capacity to prevent its sinking in case the air supply and bailing chambers 10, 11 and the air inlet ipe 18 and its extension 19'should become lled with water, while the weight 26 is of the proper heft to keep the float upright, with the bailing chamber, said air inlet pipe and extension well out of the water and said pipe above the wash of the waves in a sea way.

For the purpose of relieving the air tube 8 from'undue strains and reventing its separation from the face-mas 1 or the air-supply chamber 10, a safety-connection, preferably consistin of a light but strong chain 29 may be emp oyed. This chain is somewhat shorter than the tube 8 and may be fastened at one end to the float 9 or the side of the air chamber 10 and attached at its opposite end to the body of the user, for example by means of a neck-band or collar 30.

In addition to this improved respiratory apparatus, it is advisable to use a life preserver of any ordinary construction, that shown in the drawings comprising a pair of air-tight cylinders 31 having attaching chains 32 which pass over the shoulders of the wearer.

The air supply element of the apparatus may be of uniform size and construction for different persons, but each person or passenger requires an individual face-mask shaped to the contour of .his face by means of the plastic sealing rim 2, hereinbefore described, in order that the mask may be as nearly water tight as possible.

In the normal unused condition of the apparatus, the face-mask is connected with the air-supply chamber 10 ready for prompt service, and the weight 26 is confined in the socket of the float 9. When the apparatus is to be used, this weight ,is withdrawn from the float and the user fastens the face-mask in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, applies the safety collar 30, and enters the Water with the apparatus. The weight rights the float and its superposed parts, holding the air supply pipe 18 with its extension 19 in a substantially upright position and above the surface of the water, thus insuring the free entrance of the air into the extension and the pipe, the air passing thence through the bailing chamber 11 and passage 14 into the air supply chamber 10 and thence through the air-tube 8 into the chambered mask, furnishing an ample supply of pure air to the user, even though he may be submerged from time to time by a heavy sea. The inspired air passes out through the same course or series of chambers and conduits. At each inspiration, fresh air is taken in, so that the air respired is always fresh and fit for respiratory purposes. By using an ordinary life preserver in connection with this respiratory apparatus,-the body is supported so that the face-mask under ordinary conditions isout of the water, as shown in Fig. 1.

Although the air supply chamber and the float are connected with the face-mask by the flexible air-tube 8, they are not fastened to the body 'of the user like an ordinary life nieniie preserver. The eir supply device is therefore tree to float at e distence from him end rise lit es elreed til , tensive surtece to the waves.

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and full with the weves independently of him so that if he should. be submerged temporerily, the eir-supply device will not be drawn down with him for enough to submerge its air inlet pipe end extension, Should" any waiter enter seid pipe, it willdrop into the boiling chernber ll. end be shed ewey from the err pessege it by the cup 15, being discharged through the outlet openings 16,

described Shout it smell quantity of wetcr leek into the mesh-chamber, the some con be emptied into the lower portion of the air supply compartment lb by simply depressing the fleet sufiiciently to bringthe' eir nozzle 13 below tube is not indispensable end rney beoruitted, if desired; It will be observed that eir will be sup lied to the inlet pipe it whether this extension be in its n orrnel position, are shown by tell lines in Figs. 1 end 2, or in.-

sorted into the pipe, es shown by dotted lines in Fig. do

While the boiling chuinber-ll is desireble, it is not on obsolete; necessity end they be omitted without deperting from our invention es defined in some oi. the eppended cleines, v

As shown, the flout with the eir supply chamber ll) end "the'beiling choinber ll is compsretively nerrow oroii smell diemeter, in order to offer o minimum insistence to the sees in rough weether end prevent it from beine tossed ebout by them; thus evoiding the strein on the err conduit end the mesh which oc'r'zurs when iloet is reletively lerge or wide end presents en enlit the some time, the beetle coinpeintively long or deep,

so as to hove the necesserybuoyency to prevent its sinking; in cese the chernbers it) end ll should become filled with. wetter, loose weight, by henging some distence-be- .low the fleet, steedies it end reterd's. dritt in thereof under the notion oi? the sees;

'21 the modified construction of the tipperetus shown in Fig. 5, the stir-supply tube T 1 18 posses centrelly through g ilytloet chamber 9 endettends some distence below the fleet to term it righting chember or weight 26 which torrns-the equivelentot the weight 26 of the first-described upperetus. This righting chamber is separated from the upper eir-supply chamber of the tube by enimpertorete partition 33. The

The

the sir-tight portion of the tube below this partition. is,

provided with openings 34: for the entrance of water by which that portion of the tube is weighted orballested. H desired, however, the lower-chamber of the tube may be filled with sand, Iced or other weighting material. The portion of the'tube above the partition 33 is provided adjacent to the fleet 9 with e hollow nozzle 13 for the ettechment of the air-tube 8 leading to the face 7 mask. The operation of this modified form of the invention is substantially the some as that of the up aratusfirst-described.

If desired, the ace-mesh may be provided with an auxiliery velve-controlled eirpessage '35 independent of the air tube 8, through which the weerer may breethe directl in oelm weather, insteedot through 1 the eating air supply device, Such e con I struction is shown in Fig. 7. For this purpose, thevelve is normally closedby e suitable spring 35 end-provided on the exterior of the mesh with on erin or lever 36 by which the wearer mey open it We cleim as our invention:

1. A lite-saving epperetus, comprising e tece-mesk,,e float conteining on air supplychember and en air inlet errengcd to extend above the surface of the water, e. deiiible eir conduit connecting seid inesltwith seid eir chember, e righting weight, end flexible meens connecting the weight with the bottom of the fleet.

2. A lite-saving epperetus, comprisinge fleet provided in its lower end with e socket,

e righting weight suspended from said loot endedepted to enter seid socket, on oil'- .supply chamber curried by seid rloet end heving en inlet errenged to extend ebove the surl ece oil the wet-er, end on eir conduit connecting thelecc-rneslr with cold eirsup- Ply-chamber.

3. A lite-serving upper-stirs, comprising e doetingnir supply chamber hevinp; en eirinlet pipe erre'nged. to extend ebove the sur tees ol the weter, seid pipe hevinge detecheble extension constructed to telescope into it, e tees-mesh, end on eir conduit connecting the tees-mesh with seid coir-supply churnberu d. A lite-seving epperetus, comprising e tees-musk, e fleeting eir-supply device beving on inlet errengcd to extend ebove the surfece of the weter, e tlem'ble eir conduit connecting the mesh with seid tin-supply device, end e setetyconncction shorter then seid err conduit, etteched set one end to the eir-supply device end provided at its other end with rneens adopted to engege the user s body. 5; line lite-'preeerving epperetus, e 'fece mesh halving econnection '"or en eir supply conduit, end e sealing rin of plastic meterielr r 6, In t 1ite preserv1ng apparatus, e facelidtl ldb conduit and provided at its face-edge with a sealing rim of plastic material, said rim having an upward extension conforming to the bridge of the wearers nose and provided 10 in opposite sides with eye-recesses.

lrEORGE EDWARD FELL. 'GERTRUDE AXTELL FELI 

